North Branch, Queensland (Toowoomba Region)

Not to be confused with North Branch, Queensland (Southern Downs Region).

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North Branch Queensland
Classic car rally passing through North Branch on Gunbower Road, 2015
North Branch
Coordinates	27°51′14″S151°37′44″E / 27.8538°S 151.6288°E / -27.8538; 151.6288 (North Branch (centre of locality))
Population	48 (SAL 2021) [1]
Postcode(s)	4356
Elevation	390–498 m (1,280–1,634 ft) [2]
Area	99.5 km2 (38.4 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	13.4 km (8 mi) S of Pittsworth 53.4 km (33 mi) SW of Toowoomba 78.6 km (49 mi) NW of Warwick 185 km (115 mi) WSW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Toowoomba Region
State electorate(s)	Condamine
Federal division(s)	Groom
Suburbs around North Branch: Scrubby Mountain Scrubby Mountain Pittsworth Kincora North Branch Felton Tummaville Ellangowan Felton South

North Branch is a locality in the Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. ^[3] In the 2021 census, North Branch had a population of 48 people. ^[4]

Geography

The Condamine River forms part of the locality's south-east border with Felton South before crossing the locality towards the west where it splits into two branches ( 27°51′56″S151°35′33″E / 27.86556°S 151.59238°E / -27.86556; 151.59238 (Condamine River (split into North Branch)) ). The southern branch remains known as the Condamine River and the northern branch is known as the Condamine River (north branch) and is presumably the origin of the locality name. The two branches rejoin on the boundary of Cecil Plains and Tipton ( 27°29′11″S151°13′17″E / 27.48629°S 151.22145°E / -27.48629; 151.22145 (Condamine River (confluence with North Branch)) ) approximately 55 kilometres (34 mi) to the north-west. ^[2]

The mountain Woolly Butt is in the north-east of the locality ( 27°47′36″S151°39′06″E / 27.7932°S 151.6516°E / -27.7932; 151.6516 (Woolly Butt) ) rising to 498 metres (1,634 ft) above sea level. ^[5]

The land use is predominantly crop growing with some grazing on native vegetation. ^[2]

History

In 1877, 17,500 acres (7,100 ha) of land was resumed from the North Branch pastoral run; it was offer for selection on 17 April 1877. ^[6]

The first North Branch State School opened circa 1878 at the North Branch homestead. It was 26 by 18 feet (7.9 by 5.5 m). ^{[7] [8]} It closed in 1903. ^{[9] [10]}

The second North Branch State School opened on 11 November 1926 with an official opening ceremony on Saturday 23 April 1927. The school was on a 4-acre (1.6 ha) block of land donated by George Porter, part of a block of land selected by his father Mr J Porter 55 years earlier. The school reused buildings from the closed Spring Valley school and the Waratah school (at The Gap). ^[11] The school closed on 3 November 1958. ^{[9] [10]} The school was at 55 Kincora Road ( 27°48′16″S151°37′49″E / 27.8045°S 151.6302°E / -27.8045; 151.6302 (North Branch State School (former)) ). ^{[12] [2]}

Demographics

In the 2016 census, North Branch had a population of 39 people. ^[13]

In the 2021 census, North Branch had a population of 48 people. ^[4]

Education

There are no schools in North Branch. The nearest government primary schools are Pittsworth State School in neighbouring Pittsworth to the north-east and Back Plains State School in Back Plains to the east. The nearest government secondary schools are Pittsworth State High School, also in Pittsworth, and Clifton State High School in Clifton to the southeast. ^[14]

Facilities

North Branch cemetery, 2015

North Branch Private Cemetery is on Gunbower Road ( 27°49′36″S151°37′00″E / 27.8268°S 151.6166°E / -27.8268; 151.6166 (North Branch Private Cemetery) ). ^[15]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "North Branch (Toowoomba - Qld) (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022. 
2. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 23 December 2023.
3. "North Branch – locality in Toowoomba Region (entry 48026)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 12 April 2019.
4. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "North Branch (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
5. "Mountain peaks and capes - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
6. "Proclamations under the New Land Acts". The Brisbane Courier . Queensland, Australia. 2 March 1877. p. 3. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2020– via Trove.
7. "Advertising". Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs General Advertiser . No. 1230. Queensland, Australia. 10 July 1877. p. 2. Retrieved 23 December 2023– via National Library of Australia.
8. "New Zealand". Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs General Advertiser . No. 1507. Queensland, Australia. 24 June 1879. p. 2. Retrieved 23 December 2023– via National Library of Australia.
9. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN   978-1-921171-26-0
10. "Agency ID 5916, North Branch State School". Queensland State Archives . Retrieved 23 December 2023.
11. "North Branch School". Pittsworth Sentinel . Queensland, Australia. 27 April 1927. p. 2. Retrieved 23 December 2023– via National Library of Australia.
12. "Parish of Felton" (Map). Queensland Government. 1946. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
13. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "North Branch (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
14. "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
15. "Cemetery Areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.